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Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Mr Skrunts on 02 March 2021, 21:41:53

Title: PC Help - Hard Drive Formatting
Post by: Mr Skrunts on 02 March 2021, 21:41:53
So as I continue with sorting out my home I have now come come accross a load of hard drives IDE, SCSI & Sata.  Some I have aquired other were bought and used it my own computers over the years. :y

Having never sold any of my machines I have one or 2 kicking arround :-X.  the problem I have is the data that was/is stored on them, mainly personal details and spread sheets with bank details on them etc. :-\

Formatting will remove items to clear space but as most of us know this information can be retrieved.

I am after (Free) software if possible that will destroy all old data permanantly so I can scrap /or sell the drives and move on. :y
Title: Re: PC Help - Hard Drive Formatting
Post by: Nick W on 02 March 2021, 21:48:54
If you're going to scrap them, pile them in an old saucepan or baking tray and give them 1/2 hour on the BBQ.
Title: Re: PC Help - Hard Drive Formatting
Post by: Mr Skrunts on 02 March 2021, 21:52:17
Some are good enough & large enough to move on.
Title: Re: PC Help - Hard Drive Formatting
Post by: zirk on 02 March 2021, 22:05:35
If your going to scrap them rather than donate them just bend them in half, ie put them at an angle against a wall or kerb then use your heal of your foot or a club hammer.

If you want to donate them, there are plenty of free Secure HD Format tools out there, your basically looking for a Government Wipe Standard, something that will automatically wipe, rewrite them wipe again to a minimum of doing this at least 3 times in one hit.
Title: Re: PC Help - Hard Drive Formatting
Post by: dave the builder on 02 March 2021, 22:24:20
something like Diskwipe clicky  (https://www.diskwipe.org/)
with DOD (department of defence ) type algorithm  Dod 5220-22.M
writes zero's first pass, 1's second pass and random characters 3 pass
Title: Re: PC Help - Hard Drive Formatting
Post by: Mr Skrunts on 02 March 2021, 22:30:23
free Secure HD Format tools out there, your basically looking for a Government Wipe Standard, something that will automatically wipe, rewrite them wipe again to a minimum of doing this at least 3 times in one hit.

Would be ideal :y

Wether I sell/donate/give away or scrap I still want to clear the drives for my own piece of mind. :-X
Title: Re: PC Help - Hard Drive Formatting
Post by: Jimbob on 03 March 2021, 07:18:17
I use diskwipe on the HMG setting.

Takes hours per drive.
Title: Re: PC Help - Hard Drive Formatting
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 03 March 2021, 10:06:51
This should do it! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycs5_YpfUmM) :y

Title: Re: PC Help - Hard Drive Formatting
Post by: STEMO on 03 March 2021, 10:48:12
I've got a couple of the lads old tower pcs in the shed. Hopefully they'll rust out before I get around to dumping them.  ;D
Title: Re: PC Help - Hard Drive Formatting
Post by: deviator on 03 March 2021, 11:10:47
There is a CD image you can download called UBCD (Ultimate Boot CD) well worth having a copy laying around as it contains loads of useful tools.

For drive wiping, I like Darik's Boot & Nuke. You can simultaneously wipe multiple drives with multiple passes.

Basically connect only drives you want to wipe to a PC, boot off the CD, select Boot & Nuke, change number of passes to whatever you want and leave it to wipe.